Wed Dec 7, 2011 1:47PM GMT
Reddit
A new study says patients with type 2 diabetes who are also suffering from depression are at a significant higher risk of developing dementia.
Scientists have long linked diabetes with greater risk of developing memory problems and dementia but now a new study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry has pinpointed depression as a new risk factor that may boost the association.
Depression is not a rare condition among patients with type 2 diabetes and nearly 20 percent of the 19,000 studied diabetics were e suffering from conditions.
Findings also revealed that depressed diabetics had a doubled risk for dementia.
Over the 3 to 5 years of follow up studies, about 2 percent of depressed diabetics were found to have developed one or more forms of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease while only 1 percent of patients suffering only from diabetes developed dementia.
Researchers emphasized that despite the risk many diabetics can fight developing dementia by following healthy habits which some are even significantly helpful in controlling both diabetes and depression.
Enjoying a healthy diet, getting more physical activity and exercise, avoiding smoking, remaining mentally active and treating depression are among the preventive measures suggested by experts.
“The important thing to focus on here is that there are very effective treatments for depression,” said lead author Wayne Katon of the University of Washington.
“If you're a diabetic who does have depression it's very important to get it attended to. Just as important as getting your diabetes itself treated,” he added.
SJM/TE
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